LS attendance to be marked only from members’ seats, says Birla

Lok Sabha Attendance — Marked Only from Members' Seats

UPSC Study Note | GS-II: Indian Polity & Governance

1. At a Glance

• Om Birla, Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha, announced in January 2026 that MP attendance will be recorded only when members are physically seated at their designated seats inside the House chamber. [S1]
• The earlier practice permitted MPs to mark attendance from anywhere within the Parliament premises (outside the chamber), enabling a form of "ghost attendance." [S1]
• The rule change is positioned as an accountability and transparency measure and was to take effect from the Budget Session 2026 (which commenced 28 January 2026). [S1][S2]
• Directly relevant to UPSC: tests knowledge of parliamentary procedure, Speaker's powers, and accountability mechanisms under GS-II.

2. Why in the News

• 21 January 2026: Speaker Om Birla, while addressing the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in Lucknow, announced the new attendance rule for Lok Sabha. [S1]
• He praised UP Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana and cited the UP Assembly as a "symbol of vibrant democracy." [S1]
• The announcement came ahead of the Budget Session 2026, signalling institutional reform before a high-profile session.

3. Background & Evolution

• Pre-reform practice: MPs could sign the attendance register or use the Mobile Attendance Application from anywhere within Parliament premises — not necessarily from inside the chamber. [S3]
• Mobile Attendance App: Introduced in recent years to modernise the system; paradoxically enabled remote marking without physical presence on the floor.
• Speaker's authority: Under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, the Speaker has wide discretionary power to regulate proceedings, including attendance norms. [S4]
• Seating allocation: Each MP is assigned a designated seat in Lok Sabha; seat numbers are formally allotted by the Speaker's office at the start of each Lok Sabha.
• Historical context: Low attendance during proceedings has been a recurring concern; past Speakers have periodically appealed for better floor presence.
• Budget Session 2026: Ran from 28 January 2026 to 18 April 2026 with 31 total sittings over 81 days — the first session under the new attendance rule. [S2]

4. Core Static Facts

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Legal / Constitutional

• Article 100: Quorum for a sitting of either House is 1/10th of total membership (i.e., 55 for Lok Sabha). Low physical attendance can push proceedings toward lack of quorum.
• Article 105: MPs enjoy privilege of freedom of speech in Parliament; but no constitutional mandate on minimum attendance.
• Rules of Procedure: Speaker derives authority to fix attendance procedures under Rule 375 (general powers of Speaker). No statutory amendment needed — an administrative direction suffices.
• Courts have consistently held that internal parliamentary proceedings are non-justiciable (Article 122), meaning the new rule cannot be challenged in court.

Ethical / Governance

• Proxy or passive attendance (marking from corridors) undermines the deliberative function of Parliament; reform addresses this directly.
• Encourages MPs to be present during Question Hour, Zero Hour, and legislative debates — the core accountability sessions.
• Aligns with broader push for parliamentary productivity metrics: India's legislative sessions have been criticised for low sitting days and disruptions.

Administrative

• Speaker Om Birla has consistently focused on productivity: during the 17th Lok Sabha he pushed for record legislative output and extended sitting hours.
• Implementation: The Lok Sabha Secretariat maintains attendance records; the Mobile Attendance App will need geo-fencing or seat-based validation.
• Risk of disruption if technical verification (seat sensors, biometrics) is not robustly implemented.

Historical

• 1st Lok Sabha (1952): Attendance norms were largely informal; physical presence assumed.
• Over successive Lok Sabhas, attendance has declined; adjournments due to disruptions have reduced effective sitting time.
• UP Legislative Assembly cited by Birla as a model — significant since UP Assembly (403 seats, largest state legislature) has also adopted procedural reforms under Speaker Satish Mahana.

Political / Institutional

• Reform signals Speaker's institutional assertiveness independent of the ruling coalition.
• Could face resistance from MPs who treat attendance as a formality, especially those with multiple committee duties running concurrently.
• Sets a precedent for Rajya Sabha (Chairman: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar) to consider similar reforms.

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• June 2024: Om Birla re-elected as Lok Sabha Speaker for the 18th Lok Sabha (first Speaker re-elected after a gap of decades). [S3]
• January 2026 (20 Jan): Birla announces seat-based attendance rule during visit to UP Assembly, Lucknow. [S1]
• 28 January 2026: Budget Session commences — first session under new attendance rule. [S2]
• March 2026: Opposition tables no-confidence motion against Speaker Birla (heard 9 March 2026); politically significant context for his institutional reforms. [S5]
• 18 April 2026: Budget Session adjourned sine die after 31 sittings; 9 Bills passed. [S2]

7. Prelims Hooks

1. The new Lok Sabha attendance rule requires MPs to mark attendance from their designated seats inside the House chamber — not from elsewhere in Parliament premises.
2. The rule was announced by Om Birla, Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha, on 20 January 2026 in Lucknow.
3. The rule came into effect from the Budget Session 2026, which commenced on 28 January 2026.
4. Om Birla was first elected Lok Sabha Speaker in June 2019 and re-elected in June 2024 — making him a rare consecutive Speaker.
5. Earlier, MPs could mark attendance via a Mobile Attendance Application from anywhere within Parliament premises.
6. Article 100 sets the quorum for Lok Sabha at one-tenth of the total membership (55 members).
7. Article 122 bars courts from inquiring into validity of parliamentary proceedings — the new attendance rule is thus non-justiciable.
8. Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha is the governing document for parliamentary procedure; the Speaker has power to issue directions under it.
9. The UP Legislative Assembly (403 seats — largest state legislature) was cited by Birla as a model; its Speaker is Satish Mahana.
10. Budget Session 2026 lasted from 28 January to 18 April 2026: 31 sittings over 81 days; 9 Bills passed.
11. The Lok Sabha Secretariat maintains official attendance records; the Speaker's office allots designated seats to each MP.
12. The reform requires no legislative/statutory amendment — it is an administrative direction under the Speaker's existing powers.

8. Mains Relevance

GS Paper: GS-II — Indian Constitution, Polity, Governance, Parliament and State Legislatures

Syllabus headings: - Parliament and State Legislatures — Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers and Privileges - Transparency and Accountability in Governance

Plausible Mains Question Stems: 1. "The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is both a constitutional officer and an institutional reformer." Critically examine the powers of the Speaker in regulating parliamentary procedures, with reference to recent developments. 2. "Low attendance and frequent disruptions undermine Parliament's deliberative role." Discuss the constitutional provisions and institutional mechanisms available to improve parliamentary productivity. 3. "Administrative directions by the Lok Sabha Speaker carry the same weight as statutory provisions within the House." Examine the constitutional basis of this position and its implications for parliamentary accountability.

9. Related Topics to Study Next

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

1. Confusing "administrative direction" with "statutory amendment": The new rule requires NO amendment to the Representation of the People Act or Constitution — it flows from the Speaker's inherent procedural powers.
2. Wrong Speaker: Do not confuse Om Birla (Lok Sabha Speaker) with Jagdeep Dhankhar (Rajya Sabha Chairman / Vice-President). Attendance reform applies to Lok Sabha only.
3. Article confusion: Article 100 = quorum; Article 105 = privileges; Article 122 = non-justiciability of proceedings. Aspirants frequently mix these.
4. Budget Session dates: Budget Session 2026 began 28 January (not 26 January — Republic Day). The two dates are close and a common trap.
5. "Largest Legislative Assembly": UP Assembly has 403 seats — sometimes confused with Bihar (243) or Maharashtra (288). Birla specifically referred to UP as the "largest."

11. Sources

• [S1] "LS attendance to be marked only from members' seats, says Birla" — The Hindu, 21 January 2026 — Article content provided directly (Tier 4)
• [S2] "Both Houses of Parliament Pass 9 Bills during the Budget Session" — PIB Press Release — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2253254 — (Tier 1)
• [S3] "Members' Attendance — Lok Sabha" — loksabha.nic.in — https://loksabha.nic.in/Members/MemberAttendance.aspx — (Tier 1)
• [S4] "Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha" — eparlib.nic.in — https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/66/1/Rules_Procedure_LokSabha.pdf — (Tier 1)
• [S5] "Lok Sabha schedules resolution seeking removal of Speaker Om Birla" — newsonair.gov.in, March 2026 — https://www.newsonair.gov.in/lok-sabha-schedules-to-take-up-resolution-seeking-removal-of-speaker-om-birla-on-monday — (corroborating context)
• [S6] "Ahead of Budget Session, Speaker Om Birla appeals to leaders" — PIB — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2217013 — (Tier 1)